On
Friday, September 2, 2005, John Emerson, Assistant Special Agent In
Charge of the State
of North Carolina for the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA), along with W. Fletcher Clay, Colonel of the State
Highway Patrol, Steven W. Chalmers, Chief of the Durham Police Department
and Lindy Pendergrass, Sheriff of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department
announced the arrest of ten defendants and the seizure of approximately
297 pounds of cocaine, $78,000.00 in U.S. currency, one tractor/car-carrier,
nine vehicles and seven firearms, including 2 assault rifles, one shotgun
and ammunition.

On August 31, 2005,
the North Carolina State Highway Patrol conducted a vehicle stop of
a Freightliner tractor hauling a car-carrier containing
six vehicles in Western North Carolina. A search of the vehicles on the
car-carrier led to the seizure of approximately 286 pounds of cocaine
and the arrest of the driver, Ricardo Cecena-Valdedivar. The State Highway
Patrol contacted the Asheville Office of DEA and a joint investigation
of this seizure was initiated. The investigation led to the arrest of
two defendants in Orange County, North Carolina, identified as Francisco
Hernandez-Mendez and Jose Luis Ochoa-Figueroa. Additionally, based on
information developed in the investigation a search warrant was executed
at 7819 Fayetteville Road, Durham, NC. As a result of the search, agents
and officers seized an additional 11 pounds of cocaine, $78,000.00 in
U.S. currency and seven firearms, including two assault rifles and arrested
seven defendants. All ten defendants are being charged with violations
of the North Carolina Controlled Substances Act.

Donny Hansen, Resident
Agent in Charge of the DEA Raleigh Resident Office, stated that this
investigation was made possible due to the outstanding police
work by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. The final results demonstrate
what can be accomplished with the cooperative spirit exhibited by law enforcement
agencies in North Carolina.

Agents and officers
from the following agencies participated in this investigation: The
DEA
Raleigh Resident Office Task Force (DEA, the Durham
Police Department, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the Raleigh
Police Department, the Rocky Mount Police Department, North Carolina
State Bureau of Investigation, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office,
the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and the Wilson Police Department);
the Greensboro DEA Task Force (Alamance County Sheriff’s Office,
High Point Police Department, Mebane Police Department, Guilford County
Sheriff’s Office, Greensboro Police Department) the Charlotte DEA
Office, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service,
Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Bureau of Alcohol
Tobacco and Firearms (Asheville).

The public is cautioned that an indictment or arrest is the formal method of
issuing charges and does not in and of itself create an inference of guilt.
An individual is presumed innocent until such time, if ever, as the government
establishes his or her guilt by competent evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.

Any questions can be directed to AFD DEA PIO Ruth Porter-Whipple at
404-893-7128.